Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-03-03
THE NORTHWEST
WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsHiSeToN, D. G. Feb. 2l, 1888

" ASHlNdTON, ~. y. reDs zlt 1901
AS to what Congress is doing just now
may say the Senate is OVERRIDING the
Naval Appropriation business, and the
House is trying to get on with the regu-
lar, indispensable Appropriation bills.
The past week was marked by some
important legislation, prominent among
which was the passage of the Eads-
Tehuantepec Ship Railway bill, by the
Senate and the rigorous Ante-POlyga-
my bill by both the Senate ahd House.
You may remember that this measure
passed the Senate some time since but
1t was amended by the House, and now
the Senate has passed it as it came from
the House.
Only seven votes were recorded against
the scheme of Capt. Eads for construct
ing ship railway across the isthmus of
Tehuantepec. Those were cast by Sena-
tors Edmunds, Jones Of Arkansas, Nor
rill, Platt, Vance, Van Wyck, and Will
son of Iowa. The bill Incorporates
Capt. Eads and some eighty other per-
sons named, as body polite under the
name of the Atlantic and Pacific Ship
Railway Company. The stock is not to
exceed $1,000 900; and when ten per
cent. of stock is subscribed and ten per
cent. paid in cash, a meeting of stock
holders is to be held in Washington or
New York, for the election of directors.
Iften millions of stock is not subscribed
for, and ten per cent. of it paid in cash
within two years, the charter is to expire
by Limitation. Consequently the Gov
ernment is not committed to the pro-
ject pecuniarily, and makes no guaran-
tees.
The Senate has passed bills appro-
priating about fifty millions for ships
Of war, coast defenses and other war;
like preparations. If the Senate had
really wanted to do something for the
Navy, it would have passed these bills
early enough to permit of their consid-
Grafton by the House of Representa-
tives. 1t ought not 10 be expected that
the House will pass measures of such
magnitude, without an examination,
which there is not now time to give.
But, of course, the Senate will get the
credit of having made brilliant effort
towards an increase of the naval estab-
lishment, and the House will be con-
demned for neglect of its duty in this
matter.
Every body is wondering whom the
President will appoint on the Inter
state Commission. Among the scores
of men who have been mentioned for
place, Gen. Atkins, the present Com
missioner ofIndian Affairs, is one of the
latest. His friends say he is man who
could be, officially, as much of q friend
to the railroads as to the people. Said
one of them, "He could do justice to
both, and at the same time has moral
nuA b. Hus. d. 10, Dko
ton of winking at the New York brok-
ers for consideration"
On next Thursday an effort will be
made in the House of Representatives
to pass the Pauper Pension bill over the
Presidents veto, and the Republicans
are expected to press the matter to such
an extent that there will doubtless be a
pretty lively fight. The impression is.
however, that it will be impossible to
overrule the veto. -t
The first Mexican pension under the
recent act granting pensions to the sur
vivors Of that war, was issued on last
Friday. 1t went to the hero of Cerro
Gordo, ex-senator Williams, of
Kentucky. If all Mexican veterans
were able to verify their claims to an
allowance and secure it as readily as he,
short work would be made of the Mex
lean pension business, at least. His ap-
plication was filed in the Commission
ers' office at eleven o'clock one day last
week, and the pension certificate was
mailed in the afternoon of the same
day.
The Cabinet succession continues to
be theme of discussion. A week ago
it was believed that Mr.. Fairchild, the
Assistant Secretary, was the man for
the place, but suddenly public opinion
changed entirely. Some say that the
President will appoint a wide-awake,
practical politician to succeed Mr.. Man
hing. When the latter rendered his
resignation the President brought up
the subject of his successor, and Mr..
Manning urged upon him the necessity
of awaiting himself of the opportunity
to appoint strong Democrat of nation
al reputation, and suggested two or
three names.
A Democratic Congressman ofpromi-
nence expresses the hope that the new
Secretary of the Treasury will be taken
from among those who are not domlna-
ted by Wall-street ideas. But as he him
self acknowledged, it is very difficult to
find man of financial experience who
is not under Wall-street influence in
some way. Since New York is the CEN
tire of the money power of the nation,
every business man of prominence has
his main centre there.
The Verdict Unanimous.